Stats
IUCN Status: Critically Endangered
Range: Isla Mona, Puerto Rico
Population: 4000-5000
Size: 3-4ft total length
Threats: Invasive mammals.
species Information
- This Critically Endangered Species is found only on the island of Mona, a protected area midway between the islands the islands of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola but not part of the Puerto Rican or Hispaniolan Bank.
- Mona is a dry subtropical island and iguanas make use of the limes rock topography which offers many underground shelters.
- The biggest threat to this iguana is invasive species such as cats, rats, goats, and pigs, the latter especially target nesting areas and consume up to 100% of eggs. Nesting areas are also heavily impacted by flooding.
- A head start program was initiated in 2000 and has to date released 263 iguanas into the wild. This has increased the population of wild adult iguanas and boosted the recruited of juveniles.
- The conservation focus now is to eradicate invasive mammals on the island and restore habitat and nesting grounds.
Mona Rhinoceros Iguana
IIF Grants Received
2019 Grant $5,500
Reassessment of headstarting initiatives and population status of the Mona Island Iguana.
Nestor Perez-Buitrago
$5,500
2005 Grant $6,000
Development of a Cost-Efficient and Effective Monitoring Program for the Mona Iguana Population
Nestor Perez-Buitrago, Stephan M. Funk, W.O. McMillan, and Miguel Garcia
$6,000
This IIF grant funds a feasibility study for using non-invasively collected DNA samples (from feces) as a tool for acquiring accurate population estimates. Using existing density estimates on the Mona Iguana population, workers will compare conventional field methods (mark-recapture) with modern lab techniques using genetic markers. This pilot project has long-term implications for field assessments of other endangered iguanas.